Soccer: Phoenix keen to keep McKain with lure of contract

With the ink drying on the signatures of three players to re-sign for the Wellington Phoenix, the club will now turn their attentions to defender Jon McKain.

The 27-year-old central defender who can also play as a holding midfielder, was in great form before injuring a quad muscle which made him miss the last four games. He should be fit for next weekend.

He was being courted by Brisbane, his home town, but that was before Frank Farina was sacked.

It's understood he's close to committing to the Phoenix after Andrew Durante, Manny Muscat and Vince Lia last week joined Leo Bertos in penning new deals.

"Jon is a wanted player," Wellington chief executive Tony Pignata said. "We have spoken to him about staying and we will progress that. We have a good relationship with him so he won't go away and sign with another club without talking to us first."

McKain is one of eight players off contract at the end of this season.

Goalkeeper Mark Paston has also been in talks but these have been put on hold until after New Zealand's World Cup playoff with Bahrain on November 14.

The futures look cloudy, though, for midfielders Michael Ferrante, Troy Hearfield, Adrian Caceres and Costa Barbarouses, defender David Mulligan and back-up goalkeeper Reece Crowther.

Barbarouses will still qualify as an under-21 player - each club is required to sign three under-21 players - but has had limited game time.

Crowther has not yet played as understudy to Paston but graduates from the under-21s next season. Caceras has only recently joined the squad from Central Coast but will need to prove his worth.

It's hard to see the rest, however, retained. Ferrante, Hearfield and Mulligan are fringe players, at best.

Pignata and coach Ricki Herbert plan another overseas scouting mission in the off-season but one thing that has made recruitment difficult is the club's long-term survival.

Their licence expires at the end of next season and their existence is being challenged by Asian Football Confederation president Mohammed Bin Hammam.